Root vegetables | Grain | Burnt cinnamon | Burnt sugar | Cocoa powder | Burnt oak

Brown sugar caramel | Root beer barrel candy | Rolo candy | Mixed nuts

Cream soda | Sassafras | Seared mint | Raw barley grain | Peppercorn | Earthy

After a string of finished whiskey releases, their new parent company, Middle West Spirits, as of 2025, wants to make a splash by hitting the market with double-digit age statement releases. This was a smart move as Old Elk is in need of an excitement bump, and something big and notable to make a statement. Old Elk has built its reputation on wheat whiskey and wheated bourbon, but this 10 year old makes a strong case that its bourbon deserves equal attention.

Given how the bourbon’s aroma starts out, there is some reason for concern before things quickly turn around. An unusual pairing of mixed root vegetables and youthful grain, mixed in with cocoa powder and an array of burnt scents of cinnamon, sugar, and oak, gives pause. It comes across as a youthful craft distillery rather than one featuring a 10 year age statement.

Then, the sip. Big notes of brown sugar caramel, root beer barrel candy, Rolo candy, and mixed nuts are a candy shop lover’s dream come true. From here, the finish has the nerve to layer on cream soda and sassafras before adding seared mint and raw barley grain, which adds some earthiness to the bourbon’s conclusion. If Middle West Spirits and Old Elk wanted to make a statement, this flavor profile is mission accomplished.

Though this bourbon is sweet, given the flavors involved, you’d expect a complete overload of sugar. Somehow, the bourbon can feature the sugar flavors without the pure sweetness that typically accompanies them. It’s their essence, not the full embodiment, that is the difference here. That’s partly why this bourbon is such a surprise. Given the run-up to this, prior Old Elk Bourbon releases weren’t pointing in this direction. In more ways than one, Old Elk 10-Year-Old Straight Bourbon feels like a totally new bourbon from a totally new brand. Or in another way, it's Old Elk's “coming out” ceremony. They’ve had some difficult years, but now it seems their bourbon is on a new path, and one that newcomers, old fans, or those who wrote them off should explore.